5 Reasons Why You Should Keep A Personal Journal

Since before I was born, my parents kept a journal to chronicle their first taste of parenthood. My dad bought a hardbound notebook and frequently went to photo studios to have photos of my mom and I developed. They took turns writing captions for the photos for almost the first two years of my life. They kept doing that for both of my siblings as well.
To this day, almost 15 years later, those journals give us memories of our childhood that we couldn’t have remembered if not for the diligence of my parents in keeping them. It has also inspired me to continue what they have started and keep a journal of my own. There are tons of benefits to keeping a personal journal; here are the top 5 reasons why:

1. KEEPING A JOURNAL IS ENCOURAGED BY CHURCH LEADERS

Many times, our church leaders have taught the importance of keeping a personal journal, and asked us to do it. President Spencer W. Kimball said, “Every person should keep a journal and every person can keep a journal.” Many of our church leaders have testified of the blessings of keeping a journal and encouraged us to have our own as well.

2. HELPS YOU ACQUIRE SPIRITUAL KNOWLEDGE

Journaling is a brilliant way to capture your ideas and thoughts because it can keep them alive until you can put them into motion. Inspiration from the Holy Ghost can be received at the most unexpected times, and writing it down on paper helps you retrieve your thoughts whenever needed. Elder Richard G. Scott taught us that, “Knowledge carefully recorded is knowledge available in time of need.”

3. GETS YOU THROUGH TOUGH TIMES

One of the most effective ways to help you through difficult times is to write those experiences down in your journal. Putting your thoughts on paper is so much more emotionally beneficial than you might have imagined. Writing things down clears your mind and helps you get more of a sense of the situation you’re in. As President Henry B. Eyring taught, a daily habit of journaling helps us “strengthen our testimonies”, and “improve throughout this life.”

4. HELPS US KEEP THE LORD IN OUR REMEMBRANCE

President Eyring has said, “Living as we do with a veil over our eyes, we cannot remember what it was like to be with our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ…this is why forgetting God has been such a persistent problem among His children since the world began.”

He shared that in order to battle this tendency, we have to “find ways to recognize and remember God’s kindness.” Keeping a journal is a way to do just that. When we record great moments in our lives and look back on it, we are reminded of Him and how His kindness constantly blesses our lives.

5. JOURNALLING CAN BRING BLESSINGS TO OUR POSTERITY

Sometimes the idea of keeping our own personal record is uninteresting, simply because “details about our otherwise monotonous lives” might seem like they will have little to no effect on our posterity.

President Kimball said, “If you will keep your journals and records, they will indeed be a source of great inspiration to your families, children, grandchildren, and others, on through the generations.” By writing our personal and family histories, we are developing a true and eternal perspective of life. It can give us deep spiritual insight into the purpose of our lives here on Earth.

We are all unique children of our Heavenly Father and so our experiences will also be unique. My parents’ feat of recording our childhoods, has shown us three siblings that we all had different experiences growing up. We are encouraged to record our own unique stories for future generations to unearth and learn from.

President Kimball stressed, “Get a notebook, a journal that will last through all time, and maybe the angels may quote from it for eternity. Begin today and write in it.”

About The Author

A lover of all things eccentric, Pam is a quirky teenage girl who loves to bury her nose in books. She has a knack for writing about things she is passionate about. She sings, plays the guitar and the ukulele.

My journey as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints commenced on December 12, 2015. Back then, I was eagerly listening to the lessons of the missionaries and had always looked forward for their next visit. I don't know why I was so ecstatic every time they taught me but I'm certain that the feeling comes from the Holy Ghost. As soon as I have learned a doctrine or a principle from them, a desire from my heart was very strong that I wanted the others to partake of it as well.

As I pressed forward in the Church, my love for the restored gospel grew. Everything that had happened for the past three (3) years had been an amazing testimony builder to me. I am eternally grateful for this truth that Heavenly Father and His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ are always mindful of me and love me more than I can comprehend.

But as soon as I have decided to serve, things at times were so tempting and hectic to deal with. I am a fresh college graduate with a degree in Education and the bud of my career is starting to blossom - I was one of the passers of the recent Licensure Examination for Teachers; I have to stand up against some loved ones who's not in favor of my decision to serve. But I am grateful for the desire and love that is deeply-rooted in my heart to serve the Lord. Having it fueled me, nothing can stop me to act for the right thing.

December 15, 2018 when I got my mission call to serve in the Philippines Angeles Mission. Tears of great joy filled my eyes as I read the line, "You are hereby called to serve as a missionary of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter- day Saints."

I know that missionaries have a very unique message. One of which is the Book of Mormon. It is a powerful evidence that Joseph Smith was His prophet.

My heart is filled with gratitude for our Savior, Jesus Christ for because of Him, all things were made possible. He loves us so much that He was willing to give His life as a ransom for our sins. The greatest sacrifice that makes it the epitome of true love. Coming to know of these things, at length I've realized that I will always be indebted to Him. The least I can do to express my love and utmost gratitude to Him is to sacrifice two years of my life to serve Him.

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